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Virtual Tour Stop 5

Sigel's Final Position

Sarah Cunningham

Sarah Cunningham

Sigel halted his advance at the Sharp House, deployed his troops on either side of the Wire Road, and waited. About 8:30 a.m., a group of gray-clad soldiers moved south down the Wire Road toward Sigel’s position. Sigel assumed they were members of the 1st Iowa, part of General Lyon's force. He was mistaken--they were members of the 3rd Louisiana, a Confederate unit, supported by Missouri and Arkansas troops. The Southerners, aided by two artillery batteries, poured a deadly fire into the Union ranks. Sigel and his men fled the field. The defeat of Sigel's Brigade was a crucial turning point in the battle in favor of the Southerners.